Brady looked pretty effin' motivated in the 4th quarter against Buffalo, and that was week 1. In week 2 he lost Welker for two weeks. Edleman filled in...and then he broke his arm. And Taylor went down for several weeks over the course of which Brady cracked and reinjured ribs and broke his ring finger, Moss injured his back so badly he could barely walk, then at some point separated his shoulder, Maroney developed the dropsies and then Welker went down for good....
Aloof might be the wrong word. Introspective and overwhelmed...more likely.
Add in
frustrated -- for the entire season.
And while we're at it, let's throw in some
trivial stats on offense:
30 penalties divided among Mankins, Neal, Koppen, and Vollmer. 16 false starts among the O-line, Baker, and Aiken. 6 delay of game penalties (some of which were slow substitution and slow communication from the sideline). Granted, some of the offensive penalties were holding (11), which should never be a point of emphasis given their commonness, but the false starts and delay of game ones -- are
unacceptable and avoidable for an offense that practices to be
in sync throughout the course of the season.
Galloway...was not a failed experiment. As a longtime veteran receiver -- he was an expectation. Simply stated, it wasn't too much to expect for a veteran to be a reliable option for Brady. Someone who could run proper routes (w/ and w/o the ball), and have reliable hands when his # is called. No one expected gaudy stats from him...just someone to take the heat off of Moss downfield and be one of a reliable trio for Brady. Well, it didn't happen the way it was drawn up, awakening Brady & Co. to the reality of playing out the season with the hand they were dealt (Aiken and the others). Persevere they did...right into the playoffs with an out of sync offense.
Finally, Mo's post, some stats, and JMHO, are reasons (not excuses) why Brady appeared to be frustrated throughout the season. The last time I worked out and huddled with Brady, he didn't appear to be disinterested or unfocused.
And it's not homerism to say, as a tv viewer, I only witnessed frustration on his part. For the positive qualities he's exhibited to now be scrutinized is quite frankly -- undeserving and unfair. He's
earned so much more respect than he's being given...and like Belichick will do for him this season, I'd prefer to show my support for him while he's in NE. Not too much to ask...